There’s been quite the deluge HD overhauls recently. Since Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix showed the world that gamers were willing to pay for shiny new versions of their past glories, gaming giants such as Tomb Raider, God of War and Prince of Persia have all been put forward for a new lick of paint. Though the usual contenders for the digital facelift are the big hitters of yesteryear, in Beyond Good & Evil HD we have something of an anomaly.

The first time around I, like most people, completely missed out on this classic. Coming and going with barely a whisper, it was doomed as one of those games that glowing reviews could do nothing for. Whether it was the timing or the marketing, the fact of the matter is Beyond Good & Evil didn’t sell very well. Though poor sales would usually guarantee a game’s demise, Beyond Good & Evil carved out a strong and dedicated following that have since shouted from the rafters about it’s overlooked brilliance. With talk of a sequel on the horizon, I was intrigued to take a look and see what all the fuss was about.

Played from a third-person perspective, Beyond Good & Evil is technically an ‘action-adventure’ yet calling it so barely scratches the surface of what it has to offer. Taking control of photojournalist Jade, you play through intertwined segments of combat, racing, stealth, platforming and puzzles without any ever feeling forced or out of place. Rarely does a title manage to cram in so many genres successfully, but Beyond Good & Evil accomplishes this feat with ease and finesse.

The planet of Hillys is rich with life and full of character, offering up some fantastic treats if you are willing to seek them out. While the environments can’t match the detailed locales of the current generation, they are beautifully crafted, vibrant in colour and, with the HD overhaul, hold up staggeringly well to modern-day offerings. The same goes for the characters that populate this strange and exotic world. Each oozes charisma by the bucket-load and are reminiscent of some of the LucasArts greats from the point and click era.

As you begin your adventure, you’re thrust into the heart of an alien invasion. With little to no back-story, your opening moments with Jade are ones of utter confusion and bewilderment. All you know is that an alien species called the DomZ are attacking, the Alpha Section are here to protect you and, for apparently no reason whatsoever, half the population is made up of animals that walk, talk and act like humans. From here on in it’s up to you and your trusty sidekick Pey’j (who’s your pig uncle) to unearth a tale of conspiracy and deceit. It’s by no means a serious setting, but one that lays host to many a twist and turn that will keep you hooked until the credits roll.

With the aid of a hovercraft, you must explore the peculiar metropolis of Hillys, progressing the story by completing missions and interacting with NPCs. Along your journey you’ll collect pearls that can then be traded for upgrades on your vehicle, each allowing you access to new areas such as a jump to overcome a barrier. It’s a clever pacing mechanic that allows for steady progression through the plot yet never detracts from the illusion that Hillys is a living, breathing world.

Beyond Good & Evil isn’t all talking and exploration though as a fair chunk of the gameplay is taken up by combat. Though relatively straightforward, Jade’s melee attacks flow remarkably well, incorporating multi-directional combos such as those seen in Assassin's Creed or Batman Arkham Asylum. Despite its overuse, the stealth is similarly stylish with Jade creeping amongst enemies that utilise true lines of sight. Small flourishes such as how Jade automatically pulls herself onto ledges and sticks to cover show how progressive this title was back in its youth.

However, while Beyond Good & Evil was years ahead of its time back in 2003, it’s important to remember that it’s now competing against the modern age of gaming and it’s here where a few wrinkles start to show. Little things such as loading times, menu mechanics and fiddly controls halt the flow of the game and can sometimes become annoying. Such things would barely have been noticed back in 2003 but do go to show how far we’ve come in the last eight years.

It could also be argued that the combat and stealth elements are perhaps a little too simplistic with attacks mapped to just a single button and enemies that forget your very existence after turning a corner. The fact of the matter is, despite its comparative simplicity, the many facets of Beyond Good & Evil’s gameplay merge together seamlessly, working as intended to provide a slick and polished experience. Unfortunately the same can’t quite be said for a camera that is as bad now as it was eight years ago.

So what to make of Beyond Good & Evil HD? When it was first released it was a fantastic title, was years ahead of its time but had a bit of a dodgy camera. Now that time has caught up, it may not still be ahead of the curve but has at least aged gracefully and nonetheless remains a fun, genre-spanning sci-fi romp… with a bit of a dodgy camera. At just 800 Microsoft points, you’d be a fool not to give this terrific adventure a go, especially if you’re one of the 99.99% of people that missed it last time around.